Social grant applications are administered by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA). Information on social grants and how to apply is available on the Services section of this website in all South African official languages.
The grants are:
- Older person’s grant (old age pension)
- Child support grant
- Care dependency grant
- Grant in aid (if you live on a social grant but need someone to take care of you)
- War veteran’s grant
- Foster child grant
- Disability grant
You can also apply for social relief of distress for temporary assistance.
Social grants remain the most effective form of poverty alleviation in South Africa as millions of South Africans benefit from the social grants administered by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA).
If you’re already receiving a social grant or are in the process of applying for one, here’s what you need to know.
What is a social grant?
The government pays social grant to South African citizens who need assistance. SASSA administers social grants in South Africa.
Social grants are in place to help improve the living standards in society of people who are vulnerable to poverty, and need state support. These generally include older people, people with disabilities, and people with young children.
All applicants for social grants must be South African citizens, permanent residents or refugees (applicant must prove official refugee status granted by the South African government), and candidates must reside in South Africa.
Some social grants, such as old age pensions, social relief of distress grant, disability grants, care dependency grant and child support grant, are subject to a “means test”.
The means test aims to determine if you’re eligible to apply for a social grant, SASSA will evaluate your income and assets to determine whether you qualify to apply. The means test is simply a way of determining whether you qualify to receive a grant that’s meant for those who have insufficient means to support themselves.
Care dependency grant offers help to full-time caregivers of a child/children with disabilities.
What is the monetary amount of this grant?
R2 080 per child, per month. The grant will increase to R2 090 from 1 October 2023 (a R10 increase).
How do you know if you qualify for the grant?
To qualify for the care dependency grant, the child must be found permanently disabled by a medical officer and must be under the age of 18.
If you’re married, you and your spouse must meet the minimum qualifying requirements of the means test.
Here’s a list of the other important qualifying requirements you need to meet.
r of a child. The child must be under the age of 18 years old and must live in South Africa.
What is the monetary amount of this grant?
R500 per month per child. The grant will increase to R510 from 1 October 2023 (a R10 increase).
How do you know if you qualify for this grant?
Biological parents or caregivers can apply for a child support grant. If you’re not the biological parent of the child, you’ll have to provide proof that you’re the primary caregiver.
If you’re married, you and your spouse must meet the requirements of a means test to qualify. Have a look at the other important qualifying requirements here.
The disability grant is available on a permanent or temporary basis for between 6 and 12 months. When your temporary grant expires and you haven’t fully recovered to return to work, you’ll need to apply for the grant again. If you’re receiving other grants, you can’t receive a disability grant.
What is the monetary amount of this grant?
R2 080 per month. The Disability Grant value works on a sliding scale – people with higher private income will receive a smaller grant amount. The grant will increase to R2 090 from 1 October 2023 (a R10 increase).
How do you know if you qualify for the grant?
Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 59 years old. When applying, you’ll need to submit a medical assessment or report confirming the disability is not older than 3 months at the date of application.
If you’re married, your spouse must comply with a means test.
Find out more about the other important qualifying requirements you need to meet.
If you’re taking care of a foster child and need financial assistance, you can apply for a foster child grant. Here’s a list of the other important qualifying requirements you need to meet.
What is the monetary amount of this grant?
R1 120 a month per child. The value of the grant is subject to change every 6 months (April and October each year). The grant will increase to R1 130 from 1 October 2023 (a R10 increase).
How do you know if you qualify for the grant?
To qualify for a foster child grant, you and the child you’re caring for must live in South Africa. When applying, you must provide a court order indicating foster care status as well as a birth certificate of the child.
The child must be 18 years or younger.
Find out more about the other important qualifying requirements you need to meet.
Grants for older persons (old age pension) 
What is the monetary amount of this grant?
The older person’s grant value depends on the age of the recipient.
R2 080 per person, per month, for people between 60 and 74 years old and
R2 100 per person, per month, for people over 75 years old.
The grant will increase to R2 090 from 1 October 2023 (a R10 increase), for people between 60 and 74 years old.
The grant will increase to R2 110 from 1 October 2023 (a R10 increase), for people over 75 years old.